Container closure means



p 1936. B. F. CONNER ET AL 2,054,032

CONTAINER CLOSURE MEANS Original Filed July 17, 1934 [27 1/5 /71: are; EEHfEmJh/TCUHHEF William F ip/7277512 j WAX; t rngy Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

CONTAINER CLOSURE IMEAN S Application July l'l, 1934, Serial No. 735,550 Renewed January 27, 1936 9 Claims.

This invention relates to container closure means of the type having a readily breakable portion which is necessarily broken when the closure means or one member thereof is removed to permit access to or discharge of the container contents. A closure means of this character when properly put in place on a container serves, so long as it remains unbroken, as a definite indication to the ultimate consumer and to each intermediate distributor or dealer who handles the package that the original contents are intact and that there has been no substitution or adulteration. More particularly the present invention relates to container closure means of the specific type set forth in our copending application for Container closure means, Serial No. 723,865, filed May 4, 1934.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a container closure means of the general type set forth in the aforesaid application, wherein the breaking device which cooperates with the indicator member or outer closure is carried directly by the said member or closure, these two parts thus constituting a unit during shipment, handling and assembly. This greatly facilitates the final assembly of the closure means with the bottle or other container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container closure means of the general character set forth in the aforesaid application wherein the main or inner closure is a cork or stopper of resilient material, and where in the device for cooperating with the indicator member or outer closure is adapted to engage directly with the resilient cork or stopper so as to be thereby held against rotation. This makes it possible to use a plain cork or stopper without the necessity for any special disc or other element thereon for engagement with the breaking device.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing we have shown the embodiment of the invention which we now deem preferable, but it will be understood that the drawing is for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the inventiomthe claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a combined sectional and elevational view of a container closure means embodying the invention, the said means being shown in place on a bottle.

Fig. 2 is a combined sectional and elevatlonal view of the indicator member or outer closure and of the breaking device carried thereby.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the indicator member or outer closure, the breaking device being 5 omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the breaking device.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the indicator member or outer closure turned 10 slightly in the unscrewing or opening direction so as to break the upper portion thereof.

Referring to the drawing, t represents a container with which the container closure means embodying the invention may be used, the said 15. container having a mouth or opening 2; The container is shown as being a glass bottle, but it will be understood that the invention may be used with a wide variety of containers.

The indicator element or member is represented at 3, and it is shown as being a complete closure of the cap type entirely covering the opening 2 in the container, but the indicator member is not necessarily a complete closure. Preferably and as shown the indicator member is provided with an internal thread 4 adapted to engage an external thread 5 on the container. While complete threads are shown on the indicator member and on the container, it will be understood that other interengaging means permitting relative rotation may be substituted in some instances. The indicator member 3 has an externally visible element .or portion which is adapted to be readily'broken or separated from the remainder of the member. As shown this readily breakable or separable element or portion is at the top, as indicated at 6, being separated by an annular zone ofweakness shown at I.

The indicator member 3 may be formed of any one of a variety of materials, but it is preferred to mold the said member from a material of the synthetic resin class. Such a material is somewhat brittle and is readily breakable when provided with a sufliciently thin zone of weakness such as that at I, and it has the further advantages that it is available in a variety of colors and can be readily molded to provide any desired external trade mark or ornamental design. Synthetic resin material has the further advantage that upon breaking it does not form sharp frag-- ments or splinters dangerous to the person opening the container. Container closures for the same general purpose as the present closure have commonly been made of glass or metal, and have 5 been seriously objectionable because of the likelihood of injury to the hands of the user.

Associated with the readily breakable portion 6 of the indicator member 3 is a device structurally separate from the indicator member and normally held against rotation. This device is adapted to permit free movement thereof in one direction, but adapted to automatically engage and break the indicator member upon movement thereof in the opposite direction. When the indicator member is threaded, as shown, the said breaking device permits the said member to be screwed into its normal position, but causes breaking of the portion 6 thereof when the member is turned in the opposite unscrewing direction. Preferably to facilitate the action of the breaking device, the readily breakable portion 6 is provided with internal teeth as indicated at 8. The teeth 8 are preferably very shallow in order to permit removal from the mold, such removal being possible by reason of the resilience of the molded material while still hot. The teeth as shown in the drawing are somewhat exaggerated in size.

While the invention is not necessarily so limited the breaking device may conveniently be a sheet metal element or disc such as 9 having resilient pawls i0, i0. When the indicator member is being moved or screwed into its normal position, the said pawls III, III freely snap over the teeth 9 of the breakable portion 9; but upon movement of the indicator member in the opposite or unscrewing direction, the pawls l0, in automatically engage and hold the said teeth 8 and thereby break the said portion 9.

In accordance with one phase of the present invention the breaking device 9, instead of being entirely free from the indicator member as disclosed in the said prior application, is carried directly thereby and is connected therewith in such a manner as to permit relative rotation.

Preferably and as shown the indicator member core of the mold on which it is formed. The exterior diameter of the disc 9 is slightly greater than the interior diameter of the bead II, but

on account of the resiliency of the parts it is possible for the disc to be snapped past the bead, being thereafter retained thereby, as shown in Fig. 2. Obviously, the bead serves to support the disc 9, but the said disc and indicator member are nevertheless freely rotatable one with respect to the other.

The mounting of the breaking device 9 directly on the indicator member has the important advantage that it makes it possible for the said parts to be assembled by the manufacturer and to be thereafter handled as a unit. This avoids the neccessity for the handling of two separate parts during the operation of filling and closing the bottle.

While the indicator member may constitute the sole closure for the bottle or other container as illustrated in our aforesaid application, we have shown a separate primary closure l2 which dibeing a cork or stopper directly fitting the opening 2.

When the primary closure I2 is a cork or stopper the breaking device 9 may be provided with downward projecting prongs I3, l3 adapted to directly penetrate the resilient material of the cork or stopper to hold the said breaking device against rotation. If the breaking device is a sheet metal disc 9 such as shown, the prongs may be formed integrally therewith as shown. It will be understood that as concerns the provision of prongs such as l3, I3 for directly engaging the resilient material of the cork or stopper, it is immaterial whether the breaking device is or is not carried directly by the indicator member, and that we do not necessarily limit ourselves to the carrying of the breaking device on the indicator member.

In using the closure means shown in the drawing, the container is filled in any usual or preferred manner, and the primary closure i2 is put in place in accordance with usual practice. The indicator member or outer closure 3, preferably having the breaking device carried therein, as already described, is then put in place, the thread 4 thereof being engaged with the thread 5 on the container. As the indicator member is screwed downward into place, the prongs l3, l3 thereof are forced into engagement with the stopper l2 and the breaking device 9 is thus held against rotation. The resilient teeth l0, ID on the breaking device 9 snap over the teeth 8 on the breakable portion 6, thus permitting the indicator member to move freely to its final position.

When it is desired to open the container, the indicating member or outer closure 3 is forcibly turned in the opening or unscrewing direction. The pawls l0, l0, being in engagement with the teeth 8, resist the turning movement, and the said pawls are bent upward, thus exerting an upward force on the portion 6 which breaks it in the upward direction as shown in Fig. 5. When the portion 6 has been broken out the remainder of the indicator member 3 can be removed, the breaking device 9 being removed with it. Then the cork or stopper l2 can be removed in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that it is entirely impossible to obtain access to the contents of the container without first breaking out a portion of the indicator member 3. With the indicator member broken at the top, the consumer or in fact anyone else handling the package, will know or at least have reason to suspect, that the contents of the container have been tampered with and he should refuse to accept the package. Thus by refusing to accept any package on which the indicator member is not intact, the consumer can positivelyprotect himself against adulteration or substitution of the container contents. It will of course be understood that the indicator member will ordinarily carry a suitable trade-mark to provide additional protection to the consumer.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a closure adapted to normally completely cover a container opening and having threads by which it may be held in place,- the said closure being provided with an integralportion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, and a device carried by the closure in the interior thereof adjacent the said indicator portion and connected with the closure in a manner permitting relative rotary movement between them, the said device being provided with means whereby it is adapted to be held against rotary movement relatively to the container when the closure is rotated and the said device when so held serving to permit tree rotation of the closure in the direction to screw it into its normal container closing position but being provided with means acting to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the closure upon rotation of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

2. In. combination, a container, normally nonrotary means carried by the container and adapted to cooperate with a breaking device, a closure adapted to normally completely cover the container opening-and having threads by which it may be held in place, the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, and a breaking device separate from the closure but carried thereby in the interior thereof adjacent the said indicator portiointhe said device having resilient pawls adapted to permit rotative movement of the closure in the direction to screw it into its normal container closing position but serving by reason of its en-- gagement with the non-rotary means on the container to break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

3. In combination, a closure adapted .to normally completely cover a container opening and having threads by which it may be held in place, the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator and having internal teeth formed thereon, and a device carried by the closure in the interior thereof ad-. jacent the said indicator portion and connected with the closure in a manner permitting relative rotary movement between them, the said device being provided with means whereby it is adapted to beheld against rotary movement relatively to the container when the closure is rotated and the said device having resilient pawls adapted to snap over the said teeth during rotative movement of the closure in the direction to screw it into its normal container closing position but being provided with means adapted to break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

4. In combination, a closure adapted to normally completely cover a container opening and (having threads by which it may be held in place,

55 the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator and being also provided with an interior annular bead, and a device in the interior of the closure adjacent the said indicator portion and held by the bead in a manner permitting relative rotary movement, the

said device being provided with means whereby it is adapted to be held against rotary movement relatively to the container when the closure is rotated and the said device when so held serving the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, and ,a device in the interior of the closure adjacent the said indicator portion and having downward projecting prongs adapted to engage and penetrate a cork or stopper to prevent rotary movement relatively to the container when the closure is rotated, the said device serving to permit tree rotation of the closure in the direction to screw it into its normal container closing position but being provided with means acting to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the closure upon rotation of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction. A

6. The combination of s-closure adapted to normally/completely cover a containeropening and having threads by which it may be held in place, the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator and having integral teeth formed thereon, and a sheet metal disc in the interior oi the closure adjacent the said indicator portion, the said disc having downward projecting integral prongs adapted to engage and penetrate a cork or stopper to prevent rotary movement relatively to the container when screw it into its normal container closing position but adapted to break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

7. The combination in a container closure means, of a closure adapted to normally completely cover a container opening and having threads by which it may be held in place, the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator, and a device carried by the closure in the interior thereof adjacent the said indicator portion and connected with the closure in'a manner permitting relative rotary movement between them, the said device having downward projecting prongs adapted to engage and penetrate a cork or stopper to prevent rotary movement relatively to the container when the closure is rotated and the said device serving to permit freerotation of the closure in the direction to screw it into its normal container closing position but being provided with means acting to automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the closure upon rotation of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

8. The combination in a container closure means, of a closure adapted to normally completely cover a container opening and having threads by which it may be held in place, the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator and having integral teeth formed thereon, and a device carried by the closure in the interior thereof adjacent the said indicator portion and connected with the closure' in a manner permitting relative rotary movement between them, the said device having downward projecting prongs adapted to engage and penetrate a cork or stopper to prevent rotary movement relatively to the container when the closure is rotated and the said device having resilient pawls adapted to snap over the said teeth during rotative movement of the closure in the direction to screw it into its normal container closing position but adapted to break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure in'the opposite unscrewing direction.

9. The combination in a container closure means, of a closure adapted to normally completely cover a container opening and having threads by which it may be held in place and also having an interior annular head above the threads, the said closure being provided with an integral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakable indicator and having integral teeth formed thereon, and a sheet metal disc carried in the interior or the closure adjacent the said indicator portion and rotatably supported by the said annular head, the said disc having downward projecting integral prongs adapted to engage and penetrate a cork or stopper to prevent rotary movement relatively to the container when the closure is rotated and the said disc also having integral upward extending resilient pawls adapted to snap over the said teeth during rotatlve movement of the closure in the direction to screw it into its normal container closing position but adapted to break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

BENJAMIN 1". CONNER. WILLIAM F. SCHMALZ. 

